Council moves forward with grant to provide water relief

Published: Thursday, April 4, 2013 at 10:10 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, April 4, 2013 at 10:10 p.m.

Hendersonville City Council agreed to proceed with an application for a Community Block Development Grant to partially cover the cost of bringing a city water line to the Dana community, which is struggling with contaminated wells.

Residents with tainted wells off of Academy Road are urged to limit showers to 5 minutes and avoid drinking the water, after testing showed high levels of dieldrin once used as a pesticide for fruit and vegetable crops. The chemical was banned in the 80s because of its potential harmful effects to humans.

G. Landon Davidson, regional supervisor of the N.C. Division of Water Quality's groundwater protection section, informed council that they have sampled 72 wells in the area and 23 had above standards for dieldrin. Four of those 23 also show elevated levels of heptachlor epoxide, another chemical used on crops that has since been banned.

Donella Pressley told the council that her elderly mother, who lives on East Hill Drive, has been drinking the water 31 years and she wonders how the contaminated water may have affected her health.

“You don't really realize how much you use your water until you can't,” she said. “A simple task of brushing your teeth has become slightly complicated.”

“Our only solution is city water and if there's anything you can do to help us expedite that, it's greatly appreciated,” Pressley added. “This has affected our daily life, our quality of life and possibly our quantity of life. (The effects of) long-term exposure to these chemicals are still unknown.”

Stan Jones, of 7 East Hill Drive, said “we can all relate to taking the risk of being exposed to dangerous chemicals. Most of the time when you're exposed, you willingly take the risk. We've been exposed not by taking a risk, (but) by having our lives secretly invaded by circumstances way beyond our control at no fault to us in the Dana community.”

“Our quality of life has been affected as well as probably the length of our lives, and we've been directly affected by the contamination of our precious well water. Any help you can supply to us in this situation will be greatly appreciated.”

Henderson County commissioners voted unanimously March 20 to authorize County Engineer Marcus Jones to apply for a $300,000 grant from the Rural Center's Clean Water Infrastructure Program to aid in the extension of city lines.

City Utilities Director Lee Smith said they believe the county will be awarded the full grant and the Bernard Allen Emergency Drinking Water Fund could cover up to a third of the $600,000 project. Smith anticipates funds from the CDBG will help cover the costs of connection for residents tapping onto the new line.

Davidson told the council that he supports the water line as a permanent solution. Seirisse Baker, water quality administrator at the Environmental & Conservation Organization, also expressed support of the project.

“I think this council is aware of the seriousness of the situation you all are dealing with out there,” said Mayor Barbara Volk.

Councilman Ron Stephens asked if they could be reimbursed by grants if they start work before the grants are approved.

Smith answered that sometimes “they don't reimburse.”

“Do we trap ourselves” if we start work early?” Stephens asked, adding that the people in Dana are living in a state of emergency.

Smith said he talked with the state director of the CDBG. They are all aware of the urgency of the situation, he said.

Councilman Jerry Smith asked when they could break ground on the project, “in a perfect world.”

“If you approve it in May, we can start (design work) the next day,” Lee Smith said, adding that they could break ground as early as September or October. Construction is estimated to take six to eight months. That timeline will depend on securing grant funds, surveys, easements, permits and project designs in a timely fashion, he said.

Davidson said he feels like “everything so far is moving as fast as it can.”

Mayor pro tem Jeff Collis motioned to authorize Lee Smith to submit an application for the CDBG grant. The council agreed unanimously.

Lee Smith told the board that at the May meeting, they will hold another public hearing for the grant, as required in the CDBG program.

The Bernard Allen Emergency Drinking Water Fund is providing bottled water for residents to use while the city and county work on extending water lines.

Lee Smith said they have received approval from Dana Baptist Church to install a tap on the property for residents to access water. He added that, hopefully, the Bernard Allen fund will pay for the water consumed.

<p>Hendersonville City Council agreed to proceed with an application for a Community Block Development Grant to partially cover the cost of bringing a city water line to the Dana community, which is struggling with contaminated wells. </p><p>Residents with tainted wells off of Academy Road are urged to limit showers to 5 minutes and avoid drinking the water, after testing showed high levels of dieldrin once used as a pesticide for fruit and vegetable crops. The chemical was banned in the 80s because of its potential harmful effects to humans.</p><p>G. Landon Davidson, regional supervisor of the N.C. Division of Water Quality's groundwater protection section, informed council that they have sampled 72 wells in the area and 23 had above standards for dieldrin. Four of those 23 also show elevated levels of heptachlor epoxide, another chemical used on crops that has since been banned.</p><p>Donella Pressley told the council that her elderly mother, who lives on East Hill Drive, has been drinking the water 31 years and she wonders how the contaminated water may have affected her health.</p><p>“You don't really realize how much you use your water until you can't,” she said. “A simple task of brushing your teeth has become slightly complicated.”</p><p>“Our only solution is city water and if there's anything you can do to help us expedite that, it's greatly appreciated,” Pressley added. “This has affected our daily life, our quality of life and possibly our quantity of life. (The effects of) long-term exposure to these chemicals are still unknown.”</p><p>Stan Jones, of 7 East Hill Drive, said “we can all relate to taking the risk of being exposed to dangerous chemicals. Most of the time when you're exposed, you willingly take the risk. We've been exposed not by taking a risk, (but) by having our lives secretly invaded by circumstances way beyond our control at no fault to us in the Dana community.”</p><p>“Our quality of life has been affected as well as probably the length of our lives, and we've been directly affected by the contamination of our precious well water. Any help you can supply to us in this situation will be greatly appreciated.”</p><p>Henderson County commissioners voted unanimously March 20 to authorize County Engineer Marcus Jones to apply for a $300,000 grant from the Rural Center's Clean Water Infrastructure Program to aid in the extension of city lines.</p><p>City Utilities Director Lee Smith said they believe the county will be awarded the full grant and the Bernard Allen Emergency Drinking Water Fund could cover up to a third of the $600,000 project. Smith anticipates funds from the CDBG will help cover the costs of connection for residents tapping onto the new line.</p><p>Davidson told the council that he supports the water line as a permanent solution. Seirisse Baker, water quality administrator at the Environmental & Conservation Organization, also expressed support of the project.</p><p>“I think this council is aware of the seriousness of the situation you all are dealing with out there,” said Mayor Barbara Volk.</p><p>Councilman Ron Stephens asked if they could be reimbursed by grants if they start work before the grants are approved.</p><p>Smith answered that sometimes “they don't reimburse.”</p><p>“Do we trap ourselves” if we start work early?” Stephens asked, adding that the people in Dana are living in a state of emergency.</p><p>Smith said he talked with the state director of the CDBG. They are all aware of the urgency of the situation, he said. </p><p>Councilman Jerry Smith asked when they could break ground on the project, “in a perfect world.” </p><p>“If you approve it in May, we can start (design work) the next day,” Lee Smith said, adding that they could break ground as early as September or October. Construction is estimated to take six to eight months. That timeline will depend on securing grant funds, surveys, easements, permits and project designs in a timely fashion, he said.</p><p>Davidson said he feels like “everything so far is moving as fast as it can.”</p><p>Mayor pro tem Jeff Collis motioned to authorize Lee Smith to submit an application for the CDBG grant. The council agreed unanimously.</p><p>Lee Smith told the board that at the May meeting, they will hold another public hearing for the grant, as required in the CDBG program.</p><p>The Bernard Allen Emergency Drinking Water Fund is providing bottled water for residents to use while the city and county work on extending water lines. </p><p>Lee Smith said they have received approval from Dana Baptist Church to install a tap on the property for residents to access water. He added that, hopefully, the Bernard Allen fund will pay for the water consumed.</p><p>Reach Weaver at emily.weaver@blueridgenow.com or 828-694-7867.</p>